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The Romanian village of Viscri is world famous for two sites. One is a home of the British monarch Charles III, which was the destination of his first foreign trip after his coronation. The other is the fortified church, one of seven in Transylvania listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. But there are definitely more reasons to visit south-eastern Europe, take a listen for yourself!

Although ICOMOS states that Kraków has “the most comprehensively organised systematic protection and revitalisation of the historical fortifications of the great fortress in Poland,” the potential of the Kraków Fortress remains relatively unknown to both the local community and visitors. How can we tell the story of its phenomenon? What should be done to ensure that residents and tourists stop to explore these sites rather than just passing by, wanting to learn more about their history?

The commissioning of the oldest operating steam engine in Europe, the concert of the Post-Industrial Entertainment Orchestra – Radio Hoym, which played well-known electronic, rock and pop songs in Silesian, and the ceremonial hanging of the bronze plaque of the European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award within the walls of the Historic Ignacy Mine…. this year’s European Barbórka will go down in history!

The tenth meeting of the Kraków Heritage Forum took place, focusing the participants’ attention on the Kraków Fortress. On 20 November 2024, representatives of NGOs, cultural institutions, and experts discussed the tourist and social potential of the Fortress as a significant element of Kraków’s heritage.

What an evening that was that was! After a much needed discussion on the future of Ukrainian heritage in Poland, we were entertained with a concert full of energetic sounds which flowed from the instruments of the HrayBery band and enchanted the audience.

What are the current challenges related to the protection of cultural heritage in Hungary? In the 11th episode of the Holistic Heritage podcast Dr Katarzyna Jagodzińska, head of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Kraków, speaks with Dr Tamás Fejérdy, an architect and lecturer at several Hungarian universities, as well as an expert in heritage protection and conservation. Fejérdy is the president of the ICOMOS Hungarian National Committee.

On Wednesday 27 November 2024 the team of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Kraków had the pleasure of meeting the Secretary General of Europa Nostra Sneška Quaedvlieg–Mihailović. Also in attendance were Vice-President of Europa Nostra Professor Jacek Purchla and Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, member of Europa Nostra Board.

Join the discussion with Ukrainian activists, heritage custodians, and researchers on the topic of Ukrainian intangible heritage in the post-migratory areas of south-eastern Poland! Then, immerse yourself in its melodies as the event concludes with a concert by award-winning band HrayBery.

How does Estonia protect its tangible cultural treasures? In the latest episode of our podcast, Holistic Heritage, we turn our attention to Estonia. In the tenth episode of the Holistic Heritage podcast, John Beauchamp and Katarzyna Jagodzińska speak with Riin Alatalu, Vice-President of ICOMOS who holds the UNESCO Chair of Cultural Heritage Studies at the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts.

What is it like to run a museum that is in sight of Russian missiles? In the latest episode of the podcast Ukraine Heritage Spotlight, Oleksandra Kovalchuk, deputy director of the Fine Arts Museum in Odesa as well as the co-founder of the Museum For Change NGO, shares her experiences in supporting Ukrainian cultural institutions.

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards have been recognising the cultural wealth of our continent for over two decades. In the latest podcast from the “Holistic Heritage” series, John Beauchamp participates in the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024 in Bucharest, where he inquires about the significance and impact of these prestigious awards on the activities of organisations and institutions in the field of heritage.

Are you involved in a heritage project, either as an individual or as part of an organisation, that deserves European-wide recognition? The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025 are open for submissions! This is your chance to showcase your outstanding contributions to cultural heritage and compete for Europe’s most prestigious awards in this field.